Grief stem straightener



Nov. 10, 1936. c, BAKER 2,060,013

GRIEF STEM STRAIGHTENER Filed July 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l L INVENTOR B fives/v C 59KB;

ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1936. R. c. BAKER 2,060,013

' GRIEF STEM STRAIGHTENER Filed July 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 IN4I/(ENTOR @WCQW A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 GRIEF STEM STRAIGHTENER Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 19, 1935, Serial No. 32,239

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in straightening grief stems which are employed in rotary well drilling rigs for driving the drilling string.

The grief stem of a rotary oil well drilling rig is a steel forging approximately fifty feet long and usually six inches to eight inches square in cross section. Consequently, it is tremendously heavy and difiicult to handle and the problem of straightening it when it becomes bent or kinked is a diflicult one.

It is the principal object of my present invention to provide an improved apparatus capable of eflicient use in straightening a grief" stem while the same remains in its normal position suspended in the derrick, thus enabling the straightening operation to be accomplished expeditiously and at a low cost.

In practicing my invention I provided an apparatus which may be quickly position on the rotary table of the rig in operative relation to the grief stem. This apparatus includes a rigid frame for embracing the grief stem which frame is provided with spaced abutments for engaging one side of the stem when the same is embraced by the frame. A ram is also carried by the frame and is located centrally between the abutments to engage the side of the stem opposite that engaged by the abutments. This ram is capable of being moved hydraulically in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the abutments so as to effect straightening of the stem. To provide the hydraulic action, a manually operated pump is carried by the frame.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of an oil well derrick with a grief stem suspended therein and with my improved apparatus in position for straightening the stem.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view thereof in end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a view of my improved device in central vertical section and disclosing the manner of its operation on a grief stem.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, l0 indicates a derrick of a rotary well drilling rig and H indicates the grief stem of the rig. This grief stem or kelly occasionally becomes kinked or bent and must be straightened. To accomplish this in an expeditious manner I provide a straightening appara-. tus indicated at l2.

This apparatus includes a rigid frame l4 composed of spaced rigid side members or plates I5 which are rigidly connected top and bottom by transverse members I 6 .and IT. The latter cooperates with the lower ends of the side members I5 in forming a supporting surface for the frame. When resting on this surface the frame will stand alone in an operative position.

The front vertical edges l8 of the side members !5 are straight and extend at ninety degrees to the supporting surface so that when the latter is set on the rotary table (which is level) the edges l8 will be truly vertical.

Extending between the side members l5 are removable abutments l9 which are round in cross section and removably secured in place by bolts 20 extending transversely through the side members it as shown. The abutments are in vertical alignment and positioned one at the upper end of the frame and one at the lower end. This is so that when a stem is positioned between the side members the abutments may engage one side thereof at opposite ends of the bent or kinked portion.

Positioned at the rear side of the frame is a cylinder 2| which is fixed to a transverse member 22 which member is rigidly secured to the opposite side members i 5 of the frame. The cylinder 2| is located centrally between the abutments l9 and at the side of the frame opposite the abutments reciprocably mounted along the cylinder 2! is a piston 23 secured on a ram 24. This ram is arranged with its axis perpendicular to the plane of the abutments I9 so that it may be forced by hydraulic pressure toward the plane of the abutments as illustrated. It is intended that the outer end of the ram 24 engage the side of the grief stem which is opposite to the side thereof engaged by the abutments l9 so that when hydraulic pressure is applied to the ram 24 it will move the grief stem toward the plane of the abutments l9 and thus effect straightening.

As the cylinder 2| is located midway between the abutments, the ram 24 will engage the grief stem at the high point of its bend and force the same toward the abutments I9.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 it will be noticed that a fluid container 24' is secured to the lower transverse member I! and that also secured to this lower transverse member is a manually operated hydraulic pump 25 which may be of any preferred type. The inlet port of this pump 25 is connected by conduit 26 to the bottom of fluid 55 container 24 while the outlet of the pump is connected by conduit 21 to a port 28 of the cylinder 2|. This port 28 communicates by means of a passageway 29 to the interior of the cylinder 2| between the piston 23 and the cylinder head 30.

The conduit, or pipeline, 21 is connected by the pipeline 3| to the upper end of the container 24'. The passage of fluid through the line 3| is controlled by valve 32. When this valve 32 is closed and the pump 25 is operated, fluid from the container or reservoir 24' will be forced under high pressure through the pipeline 2! and into the cylinder 2| forcing the piston 23 and the ram 24 in a direction toward the plane of the abutments l9.

To enable the piston 23 and ram 24 to move in the opposite direction the valve 32 is opened so that the fluid in the cylinder 2| between the piston and the cylinder head 30 may exhaust into the container 24' when the piston 23 and the ram 24 are moved in a direction away from the plane of the abutments l9. To effect such movement of the piston 23 and ram 24 in this direction, the ram is formed with rack teeth 33 in mesh with which is a pinion 34. This pinion 34 is secured on a transverse shaft 35 and journalled in the member 22. One end of this shaft 34 projects beyond the side of the member 22 and at this point is fitted with a crank handle 36 so that it may be manually revolved. It is obvious that revolution of the shaft 35 and pinion 34 in one direction will move the ram 24 and piston 23 toward the cylinder head 30. During this time the valve 32 is opened so that the fluid in the cylinder, between the piston and the cylinder head may discharge into the container 24' as described. I

In operation of the device it is positioned on the rotary table with the supporting surface of the frame bearing on the rotary table. For the purpose of handling the apparatus, it being quite heavy, the upper transverse member I6 is pro vided with an eye 31 so that it may be engaged by the hook of a travelling block.

After the device is positioned on the rotary table the abutments I!) are removed so that the grief" stem may be positioned between the side memmr l8 and the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The grief stem is then liftedor lowered so that the abutments |9 will bear against the side thereof at equal distances from the center of the kink or bend. It should be stated, of course, that the high point of the bend is arranged adjacent to the ram 24. The abutments |9 are then again secured in position on the frame and the valve 32 of the pipe line 3| is closed. The hydraulic pump 25 is then manually operated to create hydraulic pressure between the piston 23 and the cylinder head 30 which causes movement of the ram 24 transversely to the axis of the kelly and in a direction toward the plane of the abutments l9. As the ram 24 moves towards the plane of abutments IS the kelly will be straightened.

To determine when the kelly is straightened, measurements may be taken inwardly from the straight edges 8 of the side member |6. After straightening has been effected the valve 32 is opened and the crank 35 is manipulated to return the ram 24 to its withdrawn position. The abutments |9 may then be removed and the entire apparatus removed from the rotary table.

I desire to call attention to the fact that my kin-n.

apparatus is entirely self contained and is portable.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided an improved apparatus which may be utilized to effect straightening of a grief stem while the stem is suspended in its normal position in the derrick, and although I have described its preferred operation as being for straightening kellys, and for use in a derrick, it is obvious that the apparatus is capable of use in straightening drill pipe and other elongated objects and may be employed in a vertical or in any other position.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the use without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A grief stem straightener comprising a rigid portable frame including a pair of elongated rectangular rigid plates arranged side by side in parallelism and in spaced relation whereby a grief stem may be positioned vertically therebetween, a rigid transverse member arranged transversely between said plates at one side edge thereof and rigidly connected thereto, the lower end of said transverse member forming a continuation of the lower end of said plates whereby the lower end of said transverse member and the lower ends of said plates will form a supporting surface adapted to rest on the rotary table of a well drilling rig and support said frame in a perpendicular position, a second rigid transverse member extending transversely between the plates at the same side edge of the plates as the first-mentioned transverse member and adjacent the upper ends thereof and rigidly connected thereto, a pair of removable abutments extending transversely between the plates adjacent the side edges thereof opposite said transverse members and positioned one adjacent the upper ends of the plates and the other positioned adjacent the lower ends of the plates, said abutments being capable of removal from the plates to enable a grief stem to be positioned between the latter, a third transverse member extending between the plates and rigidly secured thereto and positioned intermediate the ends of the plates at the same side edges thereof as the before-mentioned transverse members, a hydraulic cylinder rigidly connected to the last-named transverse member, a piston in said hydraulic cylinder, a ram connected to said piston and extending through said transverse member to engage a grief stein positioned between the plates at the side thereof opposite the abutments, a fluid container carried by the first-mentioned transverse member, a hy-v draulic pump carried by the frame and having its intake connected with the fluid container and its outlet connected with the cylinder whereby it may be operated to create a hydraulic pressure in the cylinder to move the ram toward the plane of the abutments, a toothed rack formed on the ram, a pinion in mesh with the rack, and manually operable means for revolving said pinion to move said ram in a direction away from the plane of the abutments.

REUBEN C. BAKER. 

